Only 27% of terror victims surveyed have returned to the same scope of employment they had before the October 7 attack, according to findings presented Sunday at a Tel Aviv conference organized by the 121 Association.
The survey, conducted among 145 victims of terrorism as part of the “Light on the Horizon” partnership, also highlights the severe economic consequences of their injuries.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents (61.8%) said their financial situation had deteriorated, even after receiving state allowances and compensation.
Oct. 7 victims report widespread sense of abandonment by state
The survey also found a widespread sense of abandonment by the state. About two-thirds of respondents said they had not received continuous and consistent support throughout the rehabilitation process.
The findings were presented at a conference in Tel Aviv organized by the 121 Association through its “Light on the Horizon” and “Hope for the Soul” partnerships.
MKs, party representatives, professionals, representatives of civil society organizations, terror victims, and their family members attended the conference. The event aimed to promote changes to rehabilitation and mental health policy ahead of the next Knesset and government.
One of the main issues raised at the conference was the need to move away from a model focused on determining disability percentages and toward one centered on rehabilitation and a return to functioning.
Religious Zionist Party MK Michal Woldiger criticized the way medical committees operate.
“The vast majority of medical committees today are anti-rehabilitation. They focus on how badly a person has been harmed rather than on what they need to return to functioning," she said.
"It is time to move from an approach based on allowances to an approach based on rehabilitation, and to tailor a personal rehabilitation track for every victim.”
Every workplace should have a mental health officer
Liran Avisar Ben Horin of the Together party called for a change in the approach to mental health, shifting from a crisis-response policy to one focused on prevention and early detection.
Avisar Ben Horin said every workplace should have a mental health officer who could identify employees in distress and connect them with treatment before their condition worsened.
Inbar Yehezkel Blilos of the Yashar party addressed the need to expand recognition of those affected by the war. She said recognition should also be granted to people who suffered psychological harm after being exposed to events in real time through their phones or videos, even if they were not physically present at the site of an attack or battle.
Liat Eilam, CEO of the 121 Association, summarized the discussion, saying, “The war has created a new reality to which the State of Israel has still not provided an adequate response. It is time to change the approach to rehabilitating terror victims, moving from a model focused on proving disability to a model that places rehabilitation and a return to functioning at its center. At the same time, Israel must build a national resilience and mental health system that reaches every community.”
Rehabilitation services remain unavailable
Victims and their family members also shared personal testimony at the conference.
Roni Katz, the mother of Arad Katz, who survived the massacre at the Nova music festival, said she had been forced to leave her job to care for her son.
“I received no financial assistance, no support, and no treatment from the state. Family members who bear the burden of care must receive recognition and genuine support,” she said.
Nova survivor Ron Segev also described the difficulties of undergoing rehabilitation within the existing system. He said he had been unable to return to work as he had before the war. Because he is currently recognized as having only a temporary disability, some rehabilitation services remain unavailable to him.
“The decision on permanent disability will only be made in 2027, and in the meantime, an entire year is being lost without me truly making progress in rehabilitation. Instead of a system focused on disability percentages, I need a personal rehabilitation track that will determine what I need in order to return to functioning and to life,” he said.